Adam Peaty returns with bronze at swim worlds; U.S. wins 2 golds،
DOHA, Qatar — World record holder Adam Peaty marked his return to major competition with a bronze medal in the 100-meter breaststroke at the World Aquatics Championships Monday after an extended break to focus on mental health.
American swimmer Nic Fink won gold in 58.57 seconds, Italian Nicolo Martinenghi took silver in 58.84 and Peaty touched gold in 59.10, well short of his record of 56 .88 established in 2019.
Peaty did not shave his red mustache and wore hoop earrings for the finale. The British star got off to a slow start and never really recovered, but his main goal this season is still to make it to the Paris Olympics.
“I’m a little disappointed with the execution,” Peaty said. “But that’s what I need to focus on for the next five months now.”
Peaty, who took a break last year as he battled depression and alcohol abuse after an unprecedented run of success, won the 100 breaststroke at the last two Olympics and won the gold at the world championships in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
“It's bittersweet, because we got a medal, which is something we weren't aiming for,” Peaty said. “The only thing that disappoints me is obviously the lack of skills but also going slower from the semi-final to the final. I don't want to be that person who does that. I don't have it never been.
“I have to keep things in perspective [since my return] It’s my first triple – heats, semi-finals, final – so I still have to get used to it, continue to enjoy this sport and be back in the arena,” Peaty added.
Peaty missed the 2022 world championships with a foot injury and was taking his break at last year's world championships – meaning his most recent major competition was the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“I believe everything happens for a reason,” Peaty said. “I'll take success with failures. At this time of the season, failure is a good thing and allows me to adapt and learn a little more. We'll see how that pushes us through the trials and tribulations. Olympic Games. “.
Fink, 30, added to his gold medal in the 50 breaststroke at the 2022 world championships in Budapest. He celebrated by leaning on a lane rope and showing his flexed right bicep, then fell backwards into the water.
“It’s really crazy to get the first 100m gold medal at the age of 30,” Fink said. “The fact that I’ve been able to accomplish so much in my career and continue to experience new things is really fun right now.”
Kate Douglass — the only American individual gold medalist at last year's world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, who came to Doha — comfortably defended her 200m individual medley title in 2:07, 05 ahead of Sydney Pickrem of Canada (2:08.56) and Yu Yiting. from China (2:09.01).
Angelina Kohler became the first German woman to win individual gold in 15 years at the world championships when she finished first in the 100 fly. Britta Steffen swept the 50 and 100 freestyles in 2009.
Kohler clocked 56.28, giving him a whopping 0.77 gain from his fifth-place finish in Fukuoka less than seven months ago. Claire Curzan of the United States took silver in 56.61 and Louise Hansson of Sweden took bronze in 56.94.
Diogo Ribeiro won the 50 butterfly for Portugal's first ever gold medal at the world championships, touching in 22.97 ahead of Michael Andrew of the United States (23.07) and Cameron McEvoy of Australia (23. 08). Ribeiro, 19, won silver in the same event in Fukuoka last year, marking Portugal's first ever medal at the world championships.
The 50 fly is not an Olympic event.
In women's water polo, the United States beat Australia 10-9 to set up a semifinal against Spain, who beat Canada 12-9. Additionally, Hungary beat the Netherlands on penalties and will next face Italy or Greece.
